CHRISTIANIA

Christiania is a 34-hectare site on the island of Christianshavn, not much more than a stone's throw from the city centre of Copenhagen. It used to house military barracks and laboratories, from the time when it was a key part of the defensive ring around the city; but these were gradually abandoned during the late 1960's. In 1971, inhabitants of the surrounding area broke down the fencing, and occupied the area as squatters. Most of them haven't moved out since.

Christiania quickly attracted, and obtained a reputation for, a hippie lifestyle. A communal structure was established, which included a separate currency. Cannabis use was widespread, even though it is illegal elsewhere in the country (though internal rules forbid the use of hard drugs). No cars are allowed within the site. Houses, some of them architecturally terrific, were created by the residents, albeit without planning permission. All of this was tolerated, encouraged even, by the authorities, as a way of giving an outlet to such feelings and a place where otherwise socially deprived people (drug addicts, Greenlanders, the homeless, the unemployed) could thrive. In 1989 a special law took the area away from the city of Copenhagen and put it under the direct authority of the state.

To my mind, Christiania is a harmless, yet rather interesting, experiment in urban culture. It is a real community, and it attracts a lot of tourists. However, in the noughties, it fell foul of the minority right-of-centre coalition Government's passion for law and order, and in particular the demand from the supportive, yet very right-wing, Danish People's Party that the area should be cleaned up. In 2004, they passed a law abolishing the collective, and treating the 850 or so members as individuals. The police began to crack down on the hash trade, with various attempts at eviction, though none succeeded.

The other attack from the Government was through the courts. The 2004 law made it clear that the state owned all of the land; and the Supreme Court has (not surprisingly) just endorsed that view. There is now talk of forcing long-term residents out, if they don't buy their properties or otherwise contribute. The DPP believes, again not surprisingly, that that should be at a market price, which would be very expensive, given the proximity to the city centre. Illegally built houses would be demolished.

A compromise of some sort seems likely, but it will still be a sad end. The whole point of Christiania was that it didn't want to compromise with the ordinary rules of society. The fact that a small, rich country of 5.5 million people and lots of land can't find space for 850 folk with an alternative view is rather depressing. Particularly when they have been there for nigh on 40 years.

Walter Blotscher